Lord Ruofeng disappeared without anyone noticing him. However, the fight had almost ended by then with just a few skirmishes left happening on the fringes of the fleet. The majority of the demonic cultivators had already fled for their lives, and those left behind were being chased and killed. Once again, the ship resumed its journey towards the Great Barrier as the sky turned an almost pale orange color, like molten gold merging with splattered ink.
When it was all over, cultivators returned to the ship in groups of twos and threes all supporting various degrees of wounds. Some hurriedly escaped into their cabin's privacy, some who couldn't gather enough strength simply chose to sit down in a secluded corner in the ship, cast a few protective barriers around themselves and started meditating to restore their health. While others were hurriedly restoring their strength, the children watched them curiously, afraid to interrupt but not shy of approaching them at all. But soon this curiosity too became melancholic. Quietness pervaded; stillness penetrated every mind and space. Silence became haunting, and since no one seemed to be saying anything, others too followed suit and mourned.
Sister Tan felt that these scenes of parting which many of them might have never seen before in their lives must have been quite frightening for these children. Even they, the experienced and weather-beaten cultivators, used to seeing life and death battles everyday were having difficulty grasping the sheer magnitude of this tragedy.
Their small convoy of thirty Foundation established disciples from the outer sect lost three-fourth of their group, those who did survive all sustained some degree of wound. If it wasn't brother Li who decided to share his secret technique, even those who managed to save their lives would have died. But the loss, Sister Tan pondered, was incomparable. She saw many people clenching their teeth and clasping their hands and biting their knuckles as if to restrain some monster in their heart.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," Sister Tan, too, was an outer sect disciple. She knew how abnormal the last battle had been. "We were informed there would be an ambush, but the ambush would be of such a magnitude…at least brother Li has been kept in the dark or else he wouldn't have allowed so many fresh Foundation level disciples to pick this task."
She muttered as she crushed a healing pill between her teeth. The result was instantaneous; the outward wounds were gone in a couple seconds.
"The Task Distribution Hall didn't warn us this would be a difficult task, neither was brother Li aware of the danger…When the ambush happened, coincidentally all the Elder's apart from Grand Elder Qi and Elder Jiang who are both nearing the end of their lives and currently in their weakest state were left behind on the ship and the rest…other elders went chasing some kind of lead. I don't understand. Why would they send us Foundation Building level cultivators to serve as cannon fodders when they knew there would be so many Golden Core and so many…Nascent Soul demons? What did they want to accomplish? Complete annihilation?"
Her companion sighed. "What else could it be? I wouldn't be surprised if we found later that we were acting as living targets. We thought the ship had been cleaned so there was nothing to be worried about, but who would have thought. The biggest problem has always been our identity. Weak, useless…no value…exhaustible targets."
"Do you know what you are saying?"
"That the Law Enforcement Hall failed to do their job? That the demons found a way to go past all the sect's previous security measures, and we were baits to dig out these spies? Or the fact that now, the whole cultivation world is most likely turning into a sieve with countless infiltrations everywhere and there will be many times we will be used like this?" Sister Tan's companion raised his fingers almost nonchalantly to count each of his reasons, but his overly pale figure betrayed his inner discomfort. "Which of these do you want me to explain to you, Tan'er? I know what such news means for us. There will be war. The Hundred Years War will resume from now on. History will repeat and there will be endless chaos and many like us will die without knowing why and they will tell us it was because it was our fate or that everything bad happens because heaven is inherently unjust!"
"Jiang ge…I used to think, if not more, we had a couple hundred years to live safely as we have established our Foundations. We could live by doing small tasks, taking small risks. If we couldn't fight, couldn't we run? So naive," Sister Tan looked confused as she leaned closer to her companion. The wind blew over their faces and they both turned to look towards the bereaved Su Yulin who had lost her lover.
"Now demonic cultivators have appeared, their seeds are lying dormant ready to explode, the hundred-year battle to decide the fate of the world is near…which of these wasn't still far from us outer sect disciples? We die seeking treasures, we die fighting for our beliefs, to get stronger or to prove our Tao. Now we will die because some young master and miss in the inner sect with all their treasures and resources don't want to dirty their hands or fear they will get killed. To die from treachery, betrayal, brother Jiang…To die because of someone's lies and because of sect's abandonment…I want to go back. Go home, brother Jiang. Will you come with me?"
The young man caressed sister Tan's head, kissed her forehead in a consoling manner and hummed in agreement. "Yes, why not? It has been a decade since we went back to our village. So much time has passed, everything must be different. Let's pick an easy task and…go home."
Sister Tan turned to Brother Jiang with a surprised expression. But she didn't ask what he meant.
She turned back towards brother Li.
Noticing Li Sifeng's discomfort, another person had walked up to him and was trying to console him, but she knew neither of them were ready for such brief comfort. So much innocent blood was shed. A person like Li Sifeng, who was responsible and upright, must have already taken the whole incident as his own failing. But that was it. He would never question the sect rules. Deep inside, sister Tan was aware of this and even felt resentful. But what rights did she, a weak person, have to expect brother Li to feel responsible for their misery? Or seek justice for them by going against powerful families and elders? Underneath a setting sun, many shared a pensive mood, eavesdropping upon faint whispers of many losses as if coming from a vial of memories.
"Don't be sad…Lin'er…he wouldn't have wanted you to be sad—"
"—don't lose hope."
"You still have your child…think about him. You have to care for him –"
She heard many consolations but watching the numb face of Su Yulin she once again brimmed with an irrational anger. She couldn't tell where the anger stemmed from, but it was tearing at her mind. Perhaps it was injustice, she thought, that the ways of heaven were so inherently unjust.
"Tell…me, brother Li…did he have to die? Why did…he?"
"Lin'er, you know the truth—"
"NO! I don't!" Su Yulin yelled. "You won't tell me. You are not…telling me the real reason."
Sister Tan watched Brother Li kneeling down in front of Su Yulin, caressing her head like an elderly figure. His own forehead was still bleeding profusely, beading with blood and sweat, which he hardly noticed. Some trickled down leaving their traces behind meandering in curved lines; he must have given away all his healing pills. Who could believe such a poor Golden Core cultivator would come from their Tianlan sect, one of the three greatest sects in the cultivation world? But swordsmen were famous for being penniless—
"We are duty bound, Lin'er—"
"But he didn't have to lose his life for this task!! Don't lie, brother Li. I know, he didn't have to," The girl shrieked amidst her sobs. She clutched at her hair, as if struggling to contain the pain.
She pulled her hair and yelled again, "How worthless was his death! Tell me, does anyone care for duties and responsibilities in face of death, brother? Those who risk their lives, aren't they doing that for their future promotion? If they don't live, why should we die for someone else? We aren't slaves! We know we were given privileges, so we abide by sect rules…but the righteous way doesn't watch their disciples being butchered in cold blood and stand like bystanders brother. Or use them as living targets!!"
"Su Yulin—"
"He didn't earn a penny for losing his life, brother Li. Instead, he could have lived to an old age like many other Foundation level Cultivators. Gone to a town, joined other guards of some rich family and lived a less dangerous life. Or, or farmed. Haven't we been living all these years earning spirit stones, one by one, counting each one for the day when we can own our own things? We could have kept living like that, had our own home, brought up our children together, and he'd still be here with me. But you told us it was going to be a simple mission, nothing new, just picking up new disciples. We believed you, of course we believed you…but why?! Why did this end up like this? Tell me why, brother Li, if they could send Grandmaster Wei, why couldn't they warn us beforehand?!! Brother Li, brother Li, it's just you who isn't ready to see the truth or you wouldn't have been used like—"
She didn't complete her sentence. Feeling overwhelmed, Sister Tan buried her face into her companion's chest. The young man felt her tears soaking into his clothes but didn't ask anything.
"He didn't have anyone to support him…" Su Yulin choked. "He was an orphan but he loved you like a brother. He never said a single no to you. Ever. Did everything you asked him to do. We had already decided to go to his parent's grave and worship this winter. We were going to get married…"
"—Lin'er…it's my fault."
"NO!! It's not. It's not your fault," Su Yulin shook her head furiously. "You don't understand. You know pretty well whose it is, but you just don't have the courage to face it, face the truth that's all."
"There were spies in the sect, Su Yulin. It was important to clean them up. The sect leader has promised us benefits…" Li Sifeng tried to reason, but his voice faltered. "Sect master informed me about the ongoing cleaning in the sect, Lin'er, he will compensate everyone of us. He told me he found many demons, it is a contribution. If it wasn't for all the Elder's suddenly leaving the ship…none of this would have happened. With so many Golden core cultivators guarding the ship—"
"Save it, Elder Li," Su Yulin laughed mockingly between her tears. "Don't mock me. Senior can just look around and see and count. So many outer sect disciples, hardly even in the middle stage of Foundation level, are gathered here. Many of them…perished, fighting monsters several levels higher than them. If this isn't murderous intention, what is? Tell me Elder Li Sifeng, did the Law Enforcement Hall choose us because we don't have any force behind us? Because no one will question the Sect Elders and peak leaders about their failures—mmmhh!!"
Sister Tan couldn't bear it anymore, so she walked up to Su Yulin, gagged her first then hit her weak point. The girl collapsed.
"I apologies on her behalf, brother Li." Giving the bowing man a weak smile, she picked up the girl, "She isn't in her right mind. Losing Wang Shuan has had a great impact on her spirit, and I know you will understand her. I will bring her to apologize to you later, brother Li.
Suddenly, like a broken marionette breathed with life Su Yulin stirred again and whispered, "He shouldn't have died…He shouldn't have…you betrayed his trust…you will forget him. You will never seek justice…"
Li Sifeng finally couldn't endure it anymore. He closed his eyes, and looked at everyone who was gathered there. "Everyone, I promise you and Su Yulin. Heaven be witness to this, as I, Li Sifeng take an oath of never betraying this promise to you or my Tao will forever remain broken, my cultivation never succeeding and if I do betray, may my demon heart besiege my mind. I will find everyone who contributed to today's affair, find out the reason why so many of us had to die. I will find the real cause of Wang Shuan's, my fellow junior brother's death. And I will not rest till the day the culprits are found."
Inner demon oath. Many looked at him with utter shock and Sister Tan even had an urge to stop the man from saying those words.
"I am not lying. Su Yulin is like my sister, he was my brother…," at this point his voice broke. He really couldn't continue anymore. "He didn't want others to see him as a monster so I killed him with my hands. I will never forget this injustice. Or the loss of so many brothers from the sect. Sect master has been informed already so don't worry."
"We know brother Li," Someone in the crowd came forward. "Please tell us if you need anything to be done. We will help you complete your oath, brother."
"If we can do anything for you brother Li, we will be happy to help you."
"I will take her back to her chamber, Brother Li." Sister Tan looked at the unconscious Su Yulin and said, "You should take medicine and rest too. We still don't know if those demonic cultivators have left completely or arranged some other ambush. We will be relying on you again to save us, brother. Take care."
Li Sifeng nodded and didn't waste any moment. He coldly turned away, heading back to his cabin.
***
Wei Zhiruo, who was leaning against the gunwale, noticed the commotion at the side of Brother Li. Her keen hearing and spiritual senses conveyed the images painstakingly. It was an uncomfortable sight, and she pieced together another incomplete jigsaw puzzle.
This uncomfortable impasse only broke when a few Elders, three imposing figures of Nascent Soul cultivators, and other Golden Core cultivators rejoined the main ship. Descending from amidst the rolling clouds like heavenly fairies, with their flowing water-like cloaks and poignant dancing steps, the Elders finally returned.
As it turned out, this was also the first time for the children to see so many new faces and all of them were so enchanting, many lost the ability to frame the sight into words. This must be the true beauty of the immortals. Along with the chasing blue eyes of Wei Zhiruo, many tiny heads reflexively turned towards the source of pressure together this time, taking in the glorious ensemble of beauty, might and power.
"Elder Shen!" Someone in the crowd hurriedly came forward to greet them. "Peak master!"
"Elder He is also here."
"Elder Yu as well…what are they doing here now?"
"Hey you two! Be quiet!"
Three Elders descended from the sky first. Some went to Wuji sect's ship, while others scattered to assess the final damage. In the lead was a man with his brows scrunched up in a deep frown, with his lapels and sleeves so perfectly placed that it felt as if done by an almost obsessively compelled mind. He was flanked on either side by a woman companion, wearing a purple brocaded skirt and muslin Pibo fluttering behind her and another man who resembled too much to the leading Elder Shen, and was clearly a family member. Soon from behind the three Peak masters, another Golden Core elder flew back to the ship, looking extremely grave. Wei Zhiruo recognized him as the elder who did their spiritual root test. He didn't join the others and seemed to be hurrying towards the Grand Elder's cabin.
"Brother Shen, you didn't say there will be these many children. How fortunate! It looks like many talents are going to be added to our sect this year. It is good fortune that our Sect Master was alerted in time and averted all losses," The woman looked around as she tilted her head and chatted playfully.
With her intelligent old eyes looking at curious faces, she created a ripple of pressure and discomfort in those who met them. Wei Zhiruo felt sweat dripping on her forehead and clutched her hands to keep herself from kneeling down in utter awe.
"It's their luck, indeed." Elder Shen replied vaguely. Refusing to deliberate further on the topic, he waved a hand and immediately a group of sect disciples walked up to him. "If they can grow up and serve the sect as backbones, then the Sect's sacrifices mean nothing. The sect supports them in their path; they should be glad to fulfill their duties when they grow up."
"You are right," the woman sighed. "Indeed, such intelligent children will become future pillars of our sect and carry on our righteous methods. They should be grateful for their fortune."
Wei Zhiruo bowed her head to hide her frown. But she didn't get any time to ponder as another senior brother hastily came forward cutting through the crowd, holding his sweating palms in earnest seriousness. He performed a respectful greeting, then said respectfully, "Peak Master Shen, Peak Master He, Peak Master Yu—disciple Shen Nanpeng has seen the Peak Masters of the sect."
"There's no need for more greetings." Peak Master Shen waved at Shen Nanpeng who immediately straightened his back, listening keenly. "Call everyone to gather together in an hour. We will discuss what happened today. We will reach the sect by tomorrow, so there is no need to worry about safety. Also, there is no need for irrelevant people to be present at that time. Those who aren't already in the Late stage of foundation building don't need to come. I hope I have made myself clear."
"Yes…yes, Elder. I will message them, this very instant."
"There's no need to rush. Take your time and find me in a while."
Elder Shen then briefly glimpsed the new faces. He seemed to be looking for someone amidst the crowd. When his eyes met Xi Qingqing's, he stopped and appraised the girl with an appreciative glint in his black eyes. He gestured for the girl to come forward to everyone's surprise.
"You are Xi Qingqing?"
Xi Qingqing came forward and replied with slight hesitation. "Yes…yes Elder."
"Are you the granddaughter of Princess Lifei?"
As if the name had breathed some kind of confidence into the back of the tiny girl, she stood straight and replied with a clearer voice, almost like a jade's ring. "I am the youngest granddaughter of Princess Lifei, Elder Shen. Are you familiar with my grandmother?"
Seeing her expectant eyes, some of Elder Shen's coldness softened on its own. He took out a wooden box from his sleeves and handed it over to the girl, "Here, take this. A meeting gift. I might not be familiar with the princess myself, but I have heard of her graceful bearing. The most beautiful mortal woman of her generation, there are many who remember her sight. But I happen to know her as one of my nieces. You must be aware of your Great-grandfather Shen Zhiqi? He is my cousin."
"Is this the grandniece you were talking about brother Shen? The one who was found with spiritual roots in the third generation?" The woman started nodding approvingly, looking at Xi Qingqing. "I must congratulate you again. It seems your Shen clan has once again welcomed another top level talent into your folds. Alas! looking is indeed believing. How can the lineage of the Winter fairy not produce good looking seeds? She will grow up into a beauty. Just like Shen Zhiqi and the Winter fairy themselves. Come here, child, take this, a gift from your elder. And when you meet your great-grandparents, remember to tell them to come to Scarlet Pavilion someday. And don't forget to come play with me after you have settled down in the sect. There are many beautiful sisters and brothers in my peak. Everyone will like you."
Xi Qingqing hesitantly looked towards Elder Shen who nodded subtly, before she accepted the outstretched wooden gift box and thanked loudly. Elder He didn't say anything but when it came time for a greeting gift, he also took out an inconspicuous box from his sleeves and gave it to the girl. "You can play with this. It might help in qi induction. With your talent, you should be able to inhale qi within a month, but remember to practice diligently after that."
Xi Qingqing was almost beaming with joy, but she quickly subdued her feelings and quickly thanked the three elders. "I will be diligent, Peak Master He. Xi Qingqing thanks three elders for their care."
"Let's go." Elder Shen nodded appreciatively and left.
***
Ning Fei and Ning Yizhuo quickly returned to their cabin amidst the later commotion. Rong Yuanchun hurried back to find his roommate who was sleeping in the cabin. Only Rong Hualan and Wei Zhiruo were left behind to witness the crowd gossiping, leaning into one another's earshot while taking covert glances at Zhiruo. Both the cultivators and mortals were eagerly gossiping, there was no difference in how they behaved.
Xi Qingqing's followers' not so subtle mocking look and proud glances weren't hidden from Zhiruo as well, and even when Xi Qingqing disappeared, they stayed behind sharing her long and prestigious bloodline. Wei Zhiruo knew they had long taken her and Yizhuo as Qingqing's competitors. No one could change their minds at this point and the troubles they will cause in the future were also under her calculation. But she felt this sudden arrival of Elder Shen had changed the trajectory of things. As if to announce to everyone, that the times when others were running behind Wei Zhiruo and Ning Yizhuo, and not just Xi Qingqing, had changed, and now, a better contender emerged to take the place of top talent— someone who had everything: from talent, to beauty to family connections. After all, being related to the Peak Masters was unthinkable for mortals coming from barren lands.
"Don't beat around the bush and ask." Feeling tired from Rong Hualan's subtle prodding, Wei Zhiruo decided to ask.
"What do you think happened just now?"
"You are overthinking, Hualan. Before we get safely into the sect, don't assume anything."
Rong Hualan fell silent. There was a frown crowning her small forehead, unlike her usual cheer and goofiness, suddenly her face looked grim. At last, she sighed and said, "I am just worried about Ning Yizhuo and Ning Fei. Do you think Xi Qingqing will leave them be? I can vouch that we two, Rong Yuanchun and I, will not escalate any situation. But that isn't true for Yizhuo. She will not bear any insult directed at Ning Fei."
"No, Xi Qingqing will not do such a thankless thing," Wei Zhiruo shook her head as she guessed Xi Qingqing's nature. "At least not in front of Elder Shen. She doesn't dare to ignore rules. Remember? No infighting inside the ship."
"...I am afraid brother Li and brother Deng will leave and those who are left behind will be biased." Rong Hualan whispered in an agitated way.
"Then get used to this treatment. You don't think these cultivator's will accommodate us, do you? You should have realized by now how nothing but strength is paramount to these cultivators. If you are strong, they will chase after you. But if there is nothing worth chasing in us, why would they accommodate us? In the end, even when they were trying to make connections with me and Yizhuo, they were doing that for future influence and strength that we might hold in the future."
"What if they no longer take our classes or supervise us? What if those Elders become the new teachers?"
"Ha! As if. Don't dream, Hualan. They won't, don't worry. We are not worth wasting their precious time." Wei Zhiruo was aware of the immense power those Elders held. How could the words of the Nascent Soul Elders, precious and insightful, be given away for free? To sect outsiders too? She knew they weren't part of the sect and such a privilege would only go to deserving Inner sect disciples, and even amongst them only the chosen or direct disciples.
"I hope so. Or Xi Qingqing's followers will become insufferable." Rong Hualan hesitantly nodded as well.
As they moved further away from the scattered crowd, with everyone buzzing with noise, Hualan didn't shy away from talking any further, "—let me just say. I have a very bad feeling that the next few days are going to be nothing but chaos. You realize how sensitive Ning Fei is right? I am worried someone will say something to Ning Fei, forcing Yizhuo to take a drastic step. Her temper, you are aware, right? I don't want anything like that to happen, and Zhiruo, I am quite certain Xi Qingqing's follower will make sure something like that does happen and we get thrown out of the ship or the sect for breaking the rules—"
"I said don't overthink," Wei Zhiruo didn't confide her own analysis of the situation, but she couldn't bear the complex thoughts of this child so she explained a little. "Hualan, do you think others will watch them bully us and not intervene? Don't forget, we are going to join a sect, not the Shen family. Xi Qingqing might have a say in the Shen family, but Elder Shen represents the sect. At least he will not harm us or watch something harmful happen to us. Yizhuo, me…don't forget, just like Xi Qingqing, we have an equal opportunity of being picked by some sect elder or getting into the inner sect. No one in their right mind would make enemies blindly."
"Ah-Right. I forgot. You are right, I am thinking too much."
***
After separating from Hualan, Wei Zhiruo turned towards her own cabin. When she walked closer to her room, a door suddenly captured her attention. A strange palpitation surged in her mind, like alarm bells ringing. Unknowingly she increased her pace. Her cabin was just a few doors away.
Her newly bought brocaded shoes rubbed softly against the wooden floor; screeches could be heard coming from a little distance. She left behind the door and scratching sound too but soon, like the sound of rubbing a wooden surface, a soft footstep started chasing her. Sensing danger she stopped. She wanted to shout for help, but it was too late. The corridor was too empty, as if it was not even a part of the real flying ship. Silence filled the corridor, light receded from the lamps. She realized she had walked into a fragmented dimension.
"-fuck! It failed again! No. No, no, no. We have to try, we have to try to summon again. How can the Ghost Mother not respond to so much blood? Ah, another fresh blood bag is here…"
Screeching drew nearer. Sound of fabric rubbing against flesh reverberated. It was coming from the door she left behind. Wei Zhiruo felt her whole body freeze, as if it was being controlled against her wishes. She coldly watched her body follow someone's order and walk back, push open the door and enter.
"What are you doing outside? Come quickly. Quick!" That voice rang again. The door shut close, and in front of her she saw a man, bending on his knees and drawing round and swirling grotesque looking patterns into the wooden floor.
Her icy blue eyes shrunk in surprise. Disgust flickered in those faded silver irises. Shackled in their own filthy blood, the souls of innocent victims were shrieking in pain; she heard the remnant souls' anguish filled cries and remembered the two demonic cultivators she had seen in the mountains.
Three children, hung upside down from the ceiling, with shriveled corpses and empty eyes stared into her face. Their cold bodies betrayed no sign of life and blood gathered underneath them; dripping drop by drop, pooling into a huge puddle. It was this blood the demonic cultivator used. Putting his grimy fingers into the cold blood he dyed his hands red and rubbed against the floor, painting a strange formation.
"It's time. You are quite unlucky," the silver mask gave her a scoffing laugh as he used his spiritual energy to choke her to death. "But girl, you should feel happy that your death will be quick. Don't worry. Don't cry, it's useless anyway. No one will come to help."
Feeling air slipping out from her lungs, Wei Zhiruo quickly thought of some measure. She immediately used her attacker's sheer condescension towards her as the way, then stopped struggling completely. She pretended to faint to observe what he would do next.
"Hah…mortals. A bunch of wastes!" The man waved away the lingering qi in the air and went back to carving his formation.
When she was certain that the man was no longer focused on her, Wei Zhiruo slowly bit her finger, bleeding them sufficiently. She let her eyes rove around as she inconspicuously drew a rune. Just a little distance away from her, dark splotches of reddened black liquid stained the carpet as if a protest had played out there, or someone had struggled tooth and nail and was stifled into submission. A couple of Luminous Pearls shed their gloomy light on the small cabin and she saw that demonic cultivator's shadow cast on the opposite wall, still bending over his array.
Suddenly out of nowhere, she heard him whisper. "Quite brave, aren't you? Pretending to faint in front of cultivators? Who gave you the guts? But it's alright. When I'm done with this, nothing can save you from dying here, little girl. Do you think fainting will save you from being killed? Impossible!"
He maliciously laughed at her foolish attempt to escape.
A sinking feeling pulsed in her veins. She immediately stood up on her feet to run.
"Why? No longer pretending?"
"Why do you want to kill me? I haven't offended you." Wei Zhiruo held the door knob, using all her strength to open the door. It didn't budge.
"I don't need a reason to kill." The man stood up and lunged at her languorously. He looked at her haphazard attempts to run away, watching her dart across the room, farther away from him. He laughed again as Wei Zhiruo shrunk back into her original position, shivering with her back turned towards him.
"Was that all your courage? Good! Now die obediently!"
What he didn't know was that Wei Zhiruo had successfully summoned her bow, and was crouching in wait with her hands on the string. Her taut back stopped shivering as soon as the demonic cultivator's cold qi clutched her neck. The moment that man came within her range, she released an arrow.
"Aghhh—!!!"
She heard a loud shriek but the qi strangling her didn't loosen.
In her clouded mind, she saw her Clan Elder again. He still wore his cerulean blue cloaks with lapels of silver, and was tucking the parchment from an ancient tome of Inheritance. Possessed, he seemed to be repeating the same instructions to her countless of times, as if by his repetitions an invisible knowledge will enter her mind.
"Remember! It holds my body as the vessel, my blood as its sign of unfettering, from the land of spirits it materializes, from concept to truth. When at first, it's ambiguous, it's a cloud, a mist in my hand. When it becomes aligned with my truth, it becomes what it was meant to be. The first words unleash not what you or I beheld, it unleashes what it intends and it intends nothing you desire, but what was in the beginning intended of it. It is Sameora SiMin Uttruk SiEmin, the four Great runes."
"Aghhh!!" Wei Zhiruo shrieked out in pain as several nail-like sharp needles of demonic qi pierced into her body.
She smelled her fresh blood seeping. The man had angrily thrown her against the wall and was digging at her throat. She was going to die!
"How dare you!! A mere mortal—no, what did you do? What is this? Why cannot I pull it out?" The demonic cultivator was digging out the arrow painfully, but as if it had taken root in his body the arrow refused to come out. In the end, he walked up to her and picked up the girl with his hands. Squeezing her throat, he kept asking her to undo the curse, "What did you do to me?! Stop immediately!"
But Wei Zhiruo raised her bleeding fingers again. With just a snap of her finger, a cloud of arrows burst out from somewhere and pierced the demon.
The man flew back crashing into the wall. He didn't even get enough time to realize what was happening to him, before he lay hapless against the wall, twitching with agony, his whole body suffering the brunt of countless lightning pulsing through his blood. In a few seconds, his body turned into black slag and splattered everywhere.
Wei Zhiruo coughed and stood up with difficulty. She didn't relax her guards. Instead, she stood up, gathering every bit of strength in her bones and snapping her fingers, materializing her bow again. This time, she closed her eyes and felt for the soul instead of choosing to open her special vision. When she noticed the black orb struggling to escape from the room, she aimed and kept releasing her arrows. Flashing white lightning turned into fire; it swept across the room, burning all the trace of black qi and dirty blood.
"Aghhhh- what is this?! Stop! Stop! Don't kill me-NO!!!"
She watched the soul evaporate leaving nothing behind and sighed and collapsed. In the aftermath, she stood in a silent room listening to the noise and chattering voices coming from the corridor. Although the door was shut, she knew it would open if she pulled the doorknob. But she felt the drain of using her soul to attack.
Suddenly her hand felt something falling in her hands.
'A ring?' Wei Zhiruo whispered. 'How did this fly into my hands? Is this something that demon possessed?'
Made of silver, studded with round sapphires, embedded together in an elaborate motif of vines, it didn't look ominous. It was light too. She liked the color of it reflecting in the last sun ray stealing into the cabin, but she didn't relax her guard and became more vigilant. She knew about weapon spirits. Most likely, this ring had one of these. Suddenly her red thumbs touched the sapphire, dyeing it slightly red—the ring vibrated, and struggled to escape from her hands. This time she didn't let it go. Before she could understand what was happening, she felt her head splitting with a headache.
The ring grew increasingly hot, and started struggling desperately to escape but some force didn't let it go. She observed carefully and found that it was her blood which was acting strangely. Something very warm started seeping into her body. Her head throbbed and swelled with pain, but her soul was hungrily sucking the energy in the ring. The Huadian finally unfurled its final, the twelfth petal, then sitting beautifully on her forehead like a blooming peony, it turned a cinnabar red.
However, Wei Zhiruo couldn't see the next changes happening in her body as she fainted for real.